Members of the group had to buy separate tickets for ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’

The Islamic society at an elite university has been criticised for not being ‘open-minded’ after it held its annual gala dinner where men and women were separated by a screen running down the middle of the hall.

“The point of university is to engage in a wide range of experiences and it is surprising that the university that should let a segregated event of this kind go forward."

Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University

Muslim students from the London School of Economics (LSE) even had to purchase separate tickets at £20 each for ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’, it has emerged.

And when they arrived at the gala dinner, which was held Grand Connaught Rooms in central London, men and women were divided by a 7ft screen and left unable to see each other.

One of the attendees even made a joke of the segregation by posting a picture that said ‘Hello from the brothers’ side’, a reference to Adele’s hit song, MailOnline reported.

“The point of university is to engage in a wide range of experiences and it is surprising that the university that should let a segregated event of this kind go forward."

Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University

However, academics said the university context was not appropriate for ‘segregated events’ and it shows Muslim students are not being ‘open-minded’.

Yet, the LSE’s student union defended the event as being held in a ‘relaxed’ atmosphere where men and women did interact with each other.

Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said the event wasn’t in line with life at an elite British university.

He said: “The point of university is to engage in a wide range of experiences and it is surprising that the university that should let a segregated event of this kind go forward.

LSE Islamic Society annual dinner, which was segregated with a screen separating male and female students Photo: Facebook

“The separation of men and women is a cultural aspect of Islam and it’s not fundamental to the religion. It’s sad that the students in this elite university are not being open-minded. If this is something they want to practice in private – all well and good – but this is a first ranked public university and this is a public occasion in a first ranked British-ranked university."

Nona Buckley-Irvine, the head of LSE's student union, told the Daily Telegraph there were no tensions in the room and the event was amicable.

She said: “I went as the head of the students union because I support our faith societies. There were absolutely no tensions, it was a relaxed evening. Brothers and sisters were co-hosting the event, which was one of the best I’ve been to. It was a celebration of each other and each other talents.

“Men and women were talking throughout and everyone went through the same entrance.”

“The point of university is to engage in a wide range of experiences and it is surprising that the university that should let a segregated event of this kind go forward."

Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University

An LSE spokesman said: “LSE follows the EHRC guidance on this matter, and regards gender segregation at events on campus or organised by LSE or the LSE community as contrary to the law, except for certain exceptions such as occasions of religious worship or where segregation is entirely voluntary.

This dinner was a private function, off-campus and organised by a society of the Students’ Union, which itself is a legally separate body to LSE.

“The School is raising this issue with the society and Students’ Union.”